Monthly Archives: June 2013

My CRP was only 0.5 a day after running some sprints. Since CRP is “secreted from the liver in response to IL-6” (Wilund, 2007), I suppose this means I am in good shape with IL-6. Jack Kruse mentions IL-6 and CRP quite a few times in his book, “Epi-Paleo RX” as associated with leptin resistance as I recall.

My free testosterone has been lower than expected given my total testosterone levels every single time I have tested it. It was a scary 5.5 (8.7 – 25.1) a couple weeks ago, a huge drop from the 9.1 only a month prior when I performed tests for which other results are posted below. The huge drop might have been a product of sleep quality reduction from using Adaptogen N (DHEA affected sleep? Unusual response to Suma or something else in the product?). I am suspicious though because I have other free testosterone results from last year when I was probably using the product.

Setting the mysterious huge drop and the associated effect on my mood (irritability, less verve), the basic idea is that a previously unrecognized thyroid problem may be causing my SHBG to stay high. Free triiodothyronine (T3?) has been associated with higher SHBG (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14558918). My April, 2013 TSH inexplicably jumped to 2.0 from 0.85 in 2012, a fluctuation that could be evidence of an autoimmune thyroid problem. I therefore had a complete thyroid panel (with cortisol) performed Friday and hope to get the result tomorrow.

“TIBC (Total iron binding capacity) test: measures whether a protein called transferrin, produced by the liver, has the ability to carry iron in the blood. Used to determine anemia or low body iron. It your result is high, and in the absence of chronic disease, you may be anemic. With healthy amounts of iron, this test will be low in the range—about 1/4th above the bottom number.”

** My oral temperature has been below 98.6 every time I have checked it while not sick over the last 10 years or so. I just tested at 98.1 (11 AM after a significant amount of bulletproof coffee), which is better than what I recall it previously being (97.5-97.9).

A physician said in about 2006 that my hematocrit was a little low for a young man. I am up to 42.7 now from 40.5 (37.5-51) in 2012 (optimal is 42-48 according to Dr. Kaslow). Hemoglobin is up to 13.7 from 12.8 (optimal is 14.0 – 15.0 according to Dr. Kaslow). MCV up to 86 from 84 (optimal is 87-92 according to Dr. Kaslow). RBCs virtually unchanged – 4.99 (4.14 – 5.8) in 2013 – I’m in the optimal range (4.7 – 5.25) according to http://www.drkaslow.com/html/blood_cell_counts.html [Dr. Jeremy E Kaslow].

“…being hypothyroid can result in a lowered production of stomach acid which in turn leads to the malabsorption of iron, whether revealed with low ferritin, or with inadequate levels of serum or saturation. It can also lower your body temperature (common for those on T4-only thyroxine, as well) which causes you to make less red blood cells.”

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“This study reveals that an iron-containing protein is present in high amounts in the adrenal cortex and is involved in the synthesis of corticosterone. So by having low iron, you can potentially lower your cortisol levels.”

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“Iron, in addition to iodine, selenium and zinc, are essential for normal thyroid hormone metabolism.”

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I worried that my platelets were getting too high (342 from 264 in 2012, optimal is 230-400 according to Dr. Kaslow) and blood donation would be wise despite some components of RBC counts being below normal. I remain in the optimal range so I will hold off on donating blood.

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RDW is up to 14.6 from 14.3, Doctor Kaslow has the optimum stated as only “13” and various kinds of anemia including B12 and Folic acid can cause increases. I am going to try supplementing with more B12 and Folic Acid to reduce the RDW. I bought a soon-to-expire powerful Vitamin B complex from Vitamin Shoppe and will strongly consider resuming the Ageforce Vitamin B patches since they have what appear to be the best forms of Vitamin B (such as uncommon methylfolate instead of usual folic acid) and my B12/Folate levels were higher when I used those patches in 2012 (793 vs. 651, 17.4 vs. 11.1). I think I was using a multivitamin as well last year. I’d like to get my B12 above 1000 per the recommendation of Dr. Jack Kruse in “Epi-paleo RX”, which I have seen supported elsewhere.